Hinge for pivotally securing legs to folding work benches



R. KAHN Oct. 16, 1956 HINGE FOR PIVOTALLY SECURING LEGS TO FOLDING WORK BEINCHES Filed March 25, 1953 WW NNMM WW A\ N Q Q PXW INVENTOR ROBERT /1 AH/V ATTORNEYS HINGE FOR PIVOTALLY SECURING LEGS TO FOLDING WORK BENCHES Robert Kahn, Lafayette, Calif. Application March 23, 1953, Serial N 0. 343,840 2 Claims. (Cl. 144-286) This invention relates to apparatus for supporting articles undergoing constructional operations or the like, and is more particularly related to a home shop bench which can be readily knocked down or folded into a compact unit when not in operative use.

During the past several years, interest has been greatly increased in home work shops wherein a person might not only make wooden and/ or metal articles for his own use, but at the same time, develop new skills and hobbies. Accordingly, numerous tools and equipment have been developed particularly adaptable for home use, with consideration given to the requirements of simplicity, low cost, and compactness. It has been found, however, that the advances made have been primarily directed to the tools themselves, such as power saws, lathes, drill presses, or combinations thereof, and little, if any thought has been given to equipment for more conveniently supporting or securing the article in the course of construction.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel article supporting bench particularly adapted for home shop use, which may be folded into a small unit when not in use so as to conserve floor space, and which may be simply and conveniently opened into its operative article supporting position.

Another object of my invention is to provide apparatus of the character described which is light in weight to permit its ready movement throughout a shop, yet which is constructed to insure sufiicient strength to support any article likely to be placed thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bench of the above type which may be utilized for a large number of independent operations, including, without limitation, providing a stationary article supporting surface, providing a rolling article supporting surface, providing an adjustable article clamp mechanism, and others.

A still further object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the type hereinabove described in which novel hinge means are utilized between the working surface and the legs of the apparatus, such means permitting movement of said legs in different planes of rotations, and in which means are provided for securing the legs in their operative position.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawing:

Figure l is a front elevational View of the apparatus of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a bottom mechanism.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the apparatus indicating .the position of the legs in their folded or inoperative position.

In broad terms, the shop bench of the present invention perspective view of the leg hinge ttes atent includes an article-supporting member 12 which is arranged to either support such articles directly, or engage cooperating mechanisms, later to be described, which in turn will support such articles. Also, hingedly secured legs 13 and 14 are provided adjacent each end of said member whereby the latter may be positioned in a generally horizontal plane in spaced relation to the ground or floor surface. Preferably, member 12 is of generally rectangular cross-sectional form with an upper working surface 16 and an opposed lower leg-attaching surface 17, such surfaces extending for the length of the bench. As will be understood, boards or other articles may be supported on the surface 16 for hand sawing, painting or other operations, and if desired, two of such benches may be utilized under spaced portions of the supported articles.

It was previously mentioned that each of the pairs of legs 13 and 14 are capable of folding movement so as to permit the collapsing of the entire unit for storage or the like, yet such legs must be sufiiciently rigid and strong when in their operative position, to render the entire unit capable of optimum performance. Also, such folding must be effected with a minimum of time and eifort. The foregoing may be accomplished by means of the following hinge mechanism. With particular reference to Figure 3 of the drawing, it will be noted that a main hinge 21 is provided adjacent each end of member 12, a leaf 22 thereof being secured to lower surface 17 by screws 23 or other suitable fastening means, although it will be apparent that if desired, a suitable recess could be provided in member 12 for receiving leaf 22. The other leaf 24 of hinge 21 is pivotally secured to leaf 22 in the conventional manner by a pin 26, and leaf 24 is capable of moving from an angularly related inoperative position as indicated in Figure 3, and the dash and dot lines of Figure 1 to an operative position wherein the opposed inner surfaces 27 and 28 of leaf 22 and 24 are disposed in contiguous abutting relationship. In this latter position, any load generally normal to member surface 17 applied to leaf 24 will be imparted directly to leaf 22 and thence to member 12. The legs 13 and 14 are secured to the outer surface 29 of hinge leaf 24, and therefore may be readily moved from a folded position, indicated by dash-dot lines in Figure l to an open position shown in solid lines in said figure.

In order to impart greater stability to the unit the legs,

in their open position define with surface 17 an enclosed angle slightly greater than degrees, this relationship either being internally constructed in the hinge mechanism or by placing a tapered wedge between member 12 and the hinge. Also, in the open position, further out-ward movement of the legs is tionship of hinge leaf surfaces 27 and 28, and means are further provided to prevent inward folding or collapsing of the legs when the shop bench is in use. As here shown, such means includes a threaded shaft 31 mounted for pivotal movement on a pin 32 provided on hinge leaf 22, a suitable notch 33 being formed in the latter to permit movement of the shaft from an inoperative position disposed substantially entirely within the thickness of leaf 22 to an operative position generally normal to the plane of the leaf. Leaf 24 is provided with a pair of spaced cars 34 defining a notch 36 therebetween which in the closed position of the leafs overlies notch 33. Then, by swinging shaft 31 outwardly, 33 and 36, and by tightening nut 37 engaged on the shaft against leaf 24, the latter will be positively held in engagement with leaf 22 and accidental folding of the legs prevented. In their closed position, the legs may be releas'ably locked to member 12 by a spring clip 40.

Legs 13 and 14 may be of any desired cross-sectional form, but as here shown are constructed as hollow rec- Due to the relatively narrow.

tangular metal elements.

prevented by the abutting relathe shaft will enter notches width of member 12, it is not possible to space the individual legs of each pair sufiiciently far apart to give any degree of stability to the bench. Accordingly, after the legs are moved to their open position by closinghinge 21, it is necessary to spread the legs apart to the position shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. This spreading is effected by hinging each leg to leaf surface 29. As will be seen, a pair of hinges 41 are provided on hinge leaf 24, one leaf 42 of each hinge being secured to leaf 24, and the other leaf 43 thereof secured to the opposed confronting surfaces of the respective legs. In the unspread position of the legs, the leafs 43 are disposed in parallel adjacent relationship as are the legs 13 and 14. However, it will be also noted that the upper ends of the legs are outwardly tapered as indicated by the numeral 44, and in this manner, the leafs are capable of a small degree of movement thereby permitting the legs to be spread in the manner above described. Here again, the abutting relationship of the tapered leg portions 44 against hinge leafs 4 2, and consequently hinge leafs 24 and 22, will prevent further spreading of the legs; and to prevent accidental inward movement of the legs, a pair of links 46 secured together by a pivot pin 47 adjacent an end of each link, with the other ends of each link pivotally secured tot-he respective legs by pins 48, may be utilized.

With the foregoing description, the details of construction of the article supporting member 12 and its associated leg structure, as well as its method of erection and utility are believed apparent. Such a structure possesses all of the advantages of, and constitutes a vast improvement over the heretofore available saw horses or similar devices. However, I desire to have the shop bench of this invention possess utilitarian features not currently available on any comparable structures.

Accordingly, disposed intermediate the ends of member 12, I provide at least one, and preferably two apertures 51 extending entirely through the member between the lower and upper surfaces thereof. Apertures 51 are arranged to slidably receive a pair of posts 52 which carry at the upper ends thereof brackets 53 in which a roller 54 is journalled. The outer periphery of the roller is disposed above the upper end of brackets 53 so that the roller may support a panel or the like when the user is moving a relatively large panel through a rotary saw or other machine. The convenience of such an arrangement is obvious, particularly when the vertical height of roller 54 may be readily adjusted so as to accommodate itself to various tools or operations. This adjustment is offected by means of a set screw 56 threadedly engaged in a plate 57 which passes through transverse bores 58 in member 12, and as will be seen in Figure 4, the distal end of screw 56 is arranged to engage portions of post 52 and secure the same in selected positions of axial adjustment. The other end of set screw 56 is provided with an enlarged head 59 arranged to be manually engaged by the user.

A further feature of the bench of this invention is provided on one or both of the ends of member 12. As will be seen, one or both ends of the member is furnished with a channel 61 extending generally vertically, such channel being arranged to slidably receive a rectangular element 62 having an angular plate extension 63 at the upper end thereof. By adjusting the position of element 62 in the channel recess, the plate 63 may be moved into selected positions of parallel relationship with member surface 16 and thereby may be utilized to clamp a board or other object between the plate and member. To r'eleasably secure the element 62, and consequently plate 63, at its desired elevation, a stud 64 extends outwardly from the web 66 of the channel, such stud being mounted in a slot 67 provided in element 62. By tightening a wing nut 68 against the outer face of element. 62, the latter will be positively locked against vertical or horizontal displacement. If desired, instead of using plate 63 as a clamping member, the same may serve as a removable support for a vise or other tool which can be easily placed on or removed from the bench.

While I do not wish to be limited as to the type of materials used in constructing the shop bench of my invention, it would probably be preferable to have member 12 made out of wood, such as a two by four, so as to eliminate the danger of damage to hand saw blades and to permit nailing dirrectly thereto. For superior strength, the end plates 63 and their associated elements may be constructed of metal although wooden construction would be a good substitute. Also, it should be pointed out that in place of the roller 54, other central attachments can be utilized by using the same post members 52. By way of example only, the upper ends of posts 52, or a fixed member secured thereto, can serve as a support for a table or the like at a wide range of selected elevations. Likewise the end members could be provided with a bracket for holding a drill for end drilling or dowelling. Other adaptions, will be readily apparent to persons using the bench to satisfy their own particular requirements. However, the foregoing description will indicate the general simplicity, convenience, and utility of the apparatus of this invention.

I claim:

1. In a work supporting apparatus having a horizontally disposed rectangular work supporting member with flat upper and lower surfaces, means for pivotally securing a pair of legs adjacent each end of said supporting member on the lower surface thereof, said means each comprising a hinge member having a pair of relatively movable leafs and pivot means interconnecting said leafs, one of said leafs adapted to be secured to the lower surface of said work-supporting member adjacent said end.

of the latter with the other leaf being movable about said pivot means about a horizontal axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of said member, a pair of second hinges mounted on said movable leaf on the surface thereof remote from the exposed surface of said secured leaf, said second hinges each having a fixed leaf secured to said movable leaf surface and a movable leaf movable about an axis at substantially right angles to and medially of said first mentioned pivot means, and means adapted to secure a leg to each of said movable leafs of said second hinge members whereby said legs may be moved from a first position wherein they are disposed in parallel contiguous relation against the lower surface of said supporting member and Within the lateral extent of the latter to a second position wherein said legs are substantially normal to said lower surface and define an included acute angle therebetween.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including lock means for releasably securing the leafs of said first mentioned hinge member in overlapping abutting relationship, said lock means including a threaded element pivotally mounted on said secured leaf for rotation about an axis in the general plane of said leaf, and said movable leaf having a slotted portion into which said element may be pivoted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 71,126 Bragdon Nov. 19, 186 7 1,407,058 Fullmer Feb. 21, 1922 1,411,805 Mueller Apr. 4, 1922 1,479,209 Topp Jan. 1, 1924 1,847,473 De Right Mar. 1, 1932 1,864,840 Lehner June 28, 1932 1,881,755 Logan et al Oct. 11, 1932 2,412,395 Goosmann Dec. 10, 1946 2,517,112 Jones Aug. 1, 1950 2,559,716 Gaudreau July 10, 1951 2,636,526 Madden Apr. 28, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 540,558 Germany Dec. 22, 1931 

